I just read that Browning is releasing there BLR in a take down version and am thinking of ordering one in 300 WM. Any and all comments are appreciated as I never owned a Browning rifle before.
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost.
Snowwolfe: I have older BLRs and find them to be well-made, accurate, easy-carrying and dependable. The triggers are heavy and have a good amount of creep, but you'll never notice that in the field.
The newer models, with the folding hammer (a supposed safety feature), do not permit the use of a hammer extension, which I find desireable on mine, as it makes it much easier to handle under the scope bell.
I was just looking at the Browning web site last night...
in the BLR, I noticed it is back in 358... but also they had a couple of models that were with a stainless steel finish in the BLR and a grey laminate stock...
that would be a nice looking rifle and also pretty functional for an environment like Alaska....
Posts: 16144 | Location: Southern Oregon USA | Registered: 04 January 2005
Originally posted by KSTEPHENS: i cant see what could be gained. the stock takedown from Z hat seems like a less expensive and more reasonable conversion.
What is a "stock take down from Z hat"? Costs? The BLR takedown retails for about $950 and hopefully it would sell for about $850.
My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost.
So tonuchgun tell us how you realy feel did you have a bad experence with the BLR because i have yet to find someone that has. What kind of problems did you have with yours?
Posts: 869 | Location: Bellerose,NY USA | Registered: 27 July 2001
I recently bought an older steel frame BLR in 358. Nicely put together, solid and very accurate. Light and handy to perfection. I like the rifle and can't consider it junk.
Leftists are intellectually vacant, but there is no greater pleasure than tormenting the irrational.
I have a newer blr the stainless and laminate version in 358. Very accurate no troubles at all. My dad has an older blr,steel, in 358 as well. Again no troubles and very accurate. As far as the takedown I want one. But I will wait a bit. I am hoping they will introduce those in stainless as well.
My dad has two older steel BLR's he bought new 25 years ago?...anyway never any troubles of any kind. Easy to carry and shoot. I used the .308 12 years ago to shoot a 3X4 muley. Worked great!
"Be kind and polite to everyone you meet. But have a plan on how to kill them." From an old Marine.
Posts: 81 | Location: Montana | Registered: 30 January 2006
I feel the BLR compares very favorably in lines to the M94 and Marlin 336, just no tube magazine. It is also lighter and more accurate than my Marlin 30-30, hits harder and can use pointed bullets. As to the savage 99's well they are an acquired tast, not as strong as the BLR, many had safety's oddly placed and lever throw is a bit odd also but your free to feel otherwise.
Leftists are intellectually vacant, but there is no greater pleasure than tormenting the irrational.
My first centerfire rifle was a BLR in 243. I still have that rifle and it is still one of my favorites. It is a sweet handling rifle, even though mine has too big of a scope for it, since it is currently my stand in coyote rifle
Posts: 61 | Location: FT Carson CO | Registered: 29 December 2005
I think the BLRs are prety cool! A frend had a .308 I enjoyed playing with. However I was going to get a 300 win, I personaly would opt for either a Bolt or a single shot. I would stick to short action rounds in a lever. I know someguys get great accuracy with a BLR but 2 inches at 100 would be about avarage in my mind. And to me that makes the BLR a 300 yard rifle. So if i want to 300 I want one that shoots close to MOA, witch is more likly in a bolt or single shot then a lever...tj3006
I have had a BLR in .243 for years and shot gobs of coyotes with it. I would never own another one due to the poor trigger. A lever gun just can't have a very good trigger. It is very accurate and real fast-that is why I use it on called coyotes. I would never pay $600 for one. For that price you can get a good bolt rifle.
Posts: 224 | Location: North Platte, Nebraska | Registered: 02 February 2005
I never like the BLR until I picked up one in 308. It was a really well balanced,ergonomic rifle. I don't know what it was about that particular rifle that was so nice but I let a friend buy it. I bought another one but never found another that felt as good. I have one in 450 Marlin and 308. I really prefer the Savage 99 in 308 but it's a matter of taste. I never like the BAR until I got one in 30.06 just because the price was so good. It's a very accurate ,reliable rifle.
Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing.
Posts: 1275 | Location: Fla | Registered: 16 March 2001
they sure a fine looking piece, I owned 3 at different times. All had a heavy long travel trigger-not good. Had one bust a gear in its receiver. In the .30-06 outside the shine it was a heavy carry.
Another buddy that bought a new BLR .308 thanks to my recommendation had the same thing happen-stripped gear. Now that was two rifles so far at that time. Sold them all out and never looked back. Any lever guns I own are now just Win 94's or Marlins. Just my experience and opinion.
Posts: 1019 | Location: foothills of the Brooks Range | Registered: 01 April 2005
I got a BLR lightweight 81 in 358 a few months ago and I am very pleased with it. As already mentioned it is a modern version of the old standby lever gun with some very real advantages. I had a S-99 and personaly prefer the BLR for its more classic lines, turnbolt style action and availability in a wide variety of chamberings.
Its a fantastic walking rifle with a lot of options available that allow them to cover a wide spectrum of hunting situations. One of the few lever guns that can actually compare well to a bolt action for practical field use.
Posts: 10190 | Location: Tooele, Ut | Registered: 27 September 2001
So, what is the recoil like in 358 from a BLR? Wouldn't it be a bit "uncomfortable"? Peter.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
My early steel frame BLR in 358 shoots three shots into less than 1 1/2 inches. Recoil in full power loadings is about like a similarly loaded 30-06, not bad.
Leftists are intellectually vacant, but there is no greater pleasure than tormenting the irrational.
Have a newer 81' light-weight in .358win and i love it! Its accurate(MOA to 1-1/2") light and handy and no it doesnt recoil any more than an 06 tossing heavy bullets.
I have always been amazed at how many people will say they think they are ugly(but of course have never shot or hunted with one) and under the same breath say how they love the M99. NOw thats one UGLY lever gun that doesnt even have an exposed hammer! or detachable mag or front locking lugs or, or, or. Suffice it to say to each their own
Posts: 498 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 22 May 2004
Originally posted by Tanoose: So tonuchgun tell us how you realy feel did you have a bad experence with the BLR because i have yet to find someone that has. What kind of problems did you have with yours?
Well yes Tanoose I had a bad experience. BLR lightning .270Win. Sometimes it goes bang and sometimes not - factory ammo. Wrote to Browning 2x not even a response. Maybe they send their shit to us in Australia but I was most disappointed. When it did go bang it shot to about 1.5 MOA.
Pity had my heart set on it as my pig gun but its now for sale.
Regards, JohnT
Posts: 370 | Location: Sydney, Australia | Registered: 29 December 2003
Well JohnT why not get a gunsmith to look it over, might be something easy and cheap to fix. My gun had some grease in the bolt that caused misfires with factory ammo. I cleaned it out with carb cleanter and did some dry firing, it never fails now.
Leftists are intellectually vacant, but there is no greater pleasure than tormenting the irrational.
Frontlocking,box mag,pointed pills=Winner. prefer the steel ones. New takedown idea,very nice. bottom line, much prefer to use a SAboltaction with crisp trig any day.
Well yes Tanoose I had a bad experience. BLR lightning .270Win. Sometimes it goes bang and sometimes not - factory ammo. Wrote to Browning 2x not even a response. Maybe they send their shit to us in Australia but I was most disappointed. When it did go bang it shot to about 1.5 MOA.
Pity had my heart set on it as my pig gun but its now for sale
A good friend of mine bought one of the new browning BLRs with the pistol grip in .358 Winchester. he has sent it back to browning twice now for serious function problems. I don't know what the problem is with browning, but I'm thinking their quality control has gome to hell and crap. My BLR, which is one of the early all steel rifles is a tackdriver now that I have "accurized" it. I free floated the barrel in the forearm. and relieved the barrel band so that it doesn't touch the barrel. The forearm rattles a bit, but groups are in the .50 to .80" range depending on the bullet used. Now, if I cam only maintain that level of accuracy and get rid of the rattle, I'd be a happy camper. FWIW, before I did the work, the best it would do was 4.0". No wonder I got is as cheaply as I did. I told the guy what to do, but he wouldn't listen and sold me the gun cheap. he's been trying to buy it back ever since at more than I gave him for it. I think I'll keep it. Paul B.
Posts: 2814 | Location: Tucson AZ USA | Registered: 11 May 2001
